VOL. 7, NO. 3 — MARCH 2015
FOR THE RECORDS German churches in St. Louis, 1830 – 1900
In 1830, St. Louis had a population of 4977 and had no spe- cifically German congregations. By 1900, it was the fourth largest U.S. city with a population of 575,238 and had more than 100 churches serving German-speaking citizens. This
article will explore the European background of German de- WIKIMEDIA nominations, the development of German congregations in Reforms introduced by Jean Calvin, left, and Martin Luther formed much of the basis of German Protestantism. St. Louis, and tips for finding records. hand, had no central personality. The two most influential The Protestant Reformation reformers were Swiss. Ulrich Zwingli (1484 – 1546) was To Roman Catholics, the Reformation can seem like a minor active in Zürich, and Jean Calvin (1509 – 1564), a French disturbance on an otherwise unbroken line beginning with exile, in Geneva. Zwingli was the more radical of the two, early Christianity and continuing to the present. For Protes- but Calvin’s ideas would gain wider influence as Protestants tants, however, the Reformation was a tumultuous event re- in Switzerland, Holland, and several German territories sulting in competing denominations that continued to splin- formed churches based on Calvinist doctrine. Calvinism also ter and sometimes merge again (see chart on page 4). In had a deep impact in the British isles, where it influenced Germany, Protestantism has been dominated by Lutheran, developments in the Church of England and formed the basis Reformed, and United denominations. of Presbyterianism in Scotland. Lutheran and Reformed Protestants agreed on many issues, but they diverged on key History books commonly date the beginning of the Reforma- points, most notably on the nature of the sacraments. tion to Oct. 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed Ninety- Five Theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Religious motives aside, many German rulers found it ad- Germany. History shows, however, that critical voices vantageous to be politically and economically independent emerged much earlier, and Luther’s theses were hardly new of the Catholic Church. Princes who supported the Reforma- ideas. What differed in Luther’s time was the alignment of tion took a stance against the Catholic Holy Roman Emperor economic, political, and religious factors permitting a refor- and his allies, leading to religious warfare. The 1555 Peace mation movement to take root. By the time Luther was ex- of Augsburg instituted the principle of cuius region, eius communicated from the Catholic Church in 1521, the church religio, which allowed a ruler to decide whether Catholicism that would bear his name was beginning to take on the form or Lutheranism would be practiced in his realm. The treaty of a separate denomination. failed to resolve the underlying conflict, leading to the Thirty -Year’s War (1618 – 1648). That conflict ended with the The Reformed branch of German Protestantism, on the other Peace of Westphalia, CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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which also gave official recognition to the Reformed branch Reformed Protestants. Orthodox Protestants reacted of Protestantism and solidified the basic Catholic / Protestant strongly to Rationalism’s influence in the state Lutheran regional divisions that still exist in Germany. Church in the early 19th century.
Pietism and Rationalism United Protestants Two further movements had an impact on the development By the early 19th century, Rationalism and Pietism had sof- of German Protestantism. Pietism, a renewal movement tened the divisions between German Protestants and within Lutheranism, began to appear in 1622. It empha- opened the way for a united denomination. Political will sized personal religious experience in reaction to what was for this development came from King Friedrich Wilhelm, considered the over-intellectualized practices of the official III, who ascended the Prussian throne in 1797. The Prus- Church. The emphasis on faith and conversion led Protes- sian ruling family converted to the Reformed faith in 1617, tants to seek common ground with others whose doctrinal although its subjects were primarily Lutheran. Friedrich viewpoints differed. Rationalism, a movement created by Wilhelm’s wife was a Lutheran, and it distressed him that the European Enlightenment, emphasized human reason he could not receive communion when he attended church over divine revelation. Its influence on German Protestant- with her. In 1817, the united Evangelical Church of the ism was established by the late 18th century, as clergymen Prussian Union was created by royal decree. began emphasizing morality over religious mystery. Al- though Pietism and Rationalism were fundamentally op- Although Reformed churches tended to accept the union, posed to each other, they both had the affect of diminishing many Lutherans continued to oppose it. Some Lutherans and dismissing doctrinal differences between Lutheran and managed to secede from the Church of the Prussian Union in 1841 to form an independent Lutheran denomination.
The religious situation in Germany at the PastPorts is published by the St. Louis County beginning of German emigration Library History and Genealogy Department, located on People are accustomed to referring to “Germany” as if it Tier 5 of the library headquarters. were always a unified country. Actually, a collection of Current and past issues can be downloaded from the independent duchies, principalities and kingdoms existed web
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That quickly changed as the pace of immigration increased St. Louis, Mehlville, and Des Peres, and one Lutheran con- after 1830. The Rev. Joseph Lutz, born in Baden, began gregation in St. Louis. ministering to German-speaking Catholics. Holy Ghost German Evangelical Church, the first German Protestant German Catholic churches Church in St. Louis, was founded in 1834. By 1835, Mass The first parishes created specifically for German Catholics was held regularly for German Catholics at St. Louis Uni- were St. Mary of Victories at 3rd and Gratiot and St. Jo- versity Chapel. By 1836, German missionaries arrived to seph’s at 11th and Biddle, both in 1844. That year, the Rev. organize Protestant congregations in St. Louis County. A J.G. Euland began serving St. Vincent de Paul at 9th and large group of Saxon Lutherans arrived in 1839 and organ- Park as the pastor to the parish’s German members. ized Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. German Evangelical Churches By 1840, St. Louis’s populations was 16,469—more than The German reformers used “Evangelical” (evangelisch) to triple what it had been in 1830. No German Catholic con- differentiate their congregations from those that were gregations had yet been established. Among German Prot- “katolisch,” that is, loyal to the Roman Catholic Church. estants, Evangelical congregations were organized in The term took on the generic meaning of “Protestant.” In
This chart depicting the origins of the United Church of Christ shows denominational development from a Protestant perspective. The chart can be downloaded as a PDF from the Eden Seminary Archives website
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this general sense, every German Protestant Church, are known to have existed in St. Louis. Salem Reformed regardless of denomination, is “Evangelical.” More specifi- Church at 18th and Sullivan Streets was established in 1888 cally, “German Evangelical” refers to congregations be- and merged with Faith Evangelical and Reformed Church longing to the German Evangelical Synod of North Amer- in Jennings in 1949 to form Faith-Salem (closed in 2000). ica denomination. Its founders actively worked to over- Maple Avenue Reformed Church was organized in 1899 at come differences between Lutheran and Reformed Maple and Clarendon Avenues and last listed in the 1915 churches by creating one united denomination, as had been St. Louis city directory. done in Prussia beginning in 1817. The denomination em- Lutheran congregations ployed the generic term “Evangelical,” which could apply to either Reformed or Lutheran Protestant traditions. Most—if not all—German speaking Lutheran congrega- tions in the St. Louis area were related to the Lutheran The denomination was organized in 1840 by the Rev. Louis Church—Missouri Synod denomination. The Lutheran Nollau, and five other German Protestant clergymen meet- faith was established in the area by 700 German immi- ing at St. John’s Church in Mehlville. It merged with the grants from Saxony, who had separated from the state (German) Reformed Church in 1934 to form the Evangeli- Lutheran Church over the introduction of rationalistic ele- cal and Reformed Church. A further merger with the Con- ments. The immigrants arrived in St. Louis in 1839, with gregational Christian Churches in 1957 created the present- the majority continuing on to Perry County, Missouri. The day United Church of Christ. The earliest congregation re- remaining group founded Trinity Evangelical Lutheran lated to the denomination is Evangelical United Church of Church, which has been located at 8th and Soulard since Christ in Femme Osage, St. Charles County, organized in 1864 . The Saxon Lutherans’ opposition to union with the 1833. St. John’s United Church of Christ in Mehlville, Reformed Church isolated them other German Protestants Parkway United Church of Christ in Des Peres, St. Peter’s in the area. United Church of Christ in Ferguson, and St. Marcus United Church of Christ in St. Louis City were the earliest The Evangelical Lutheran General Synod of the United St. Louis congregations. States of North America established St. Mark’s English Lutheran Church at Wash and Elliott Streets in 1867. This Independent German Evangelical congregations denomination had its beginnings in Pennsylvania in the Independent German congregations attempted to overcome 1700s with the first wave of German immigration. Al- denominational differences by creating united congrega- though the denomination had been Americanized and St. tions. More rationalistic than the German Evangelical Mark’s was English speaking, the congregation might have Synod, independent German Protestant congregations also attracted some German immigrants. St. Mark’s is now lo- shared an aversion to denominational bureaucracy. Holy cated on Clayton Road just west of Skinker Boulevard and Ghost Church, founded in 1834 as the first German Protes- is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in tant congregation in St. Louis, remained a prominent inde- America denomination. pendent congregation until affiliating with the Evangelical German Methodists and Reformed Church in 1943. A division in Holy Ghost Church in 1856 created the Independent German Evangeli- Methodism began as a renewal movement within the cal Protestant Congregation, now known as Christ the King Church of England led by John Wesley (1703 – 1791) and United Church of Christ in Florissant. his brother Charles (1707 – 1788). The denomination re- sulting from their activity takes its name from the brothers’ German Reformed congregations “methodical” approach to Christian devotional practice. It The (German) Reformed Church in the United States dates became a separate denomination from the Church of Eng- from 1747, when clergymen organized a ministerial asso- land when John Wesley, a priest, defied church law and ciation in Pennsylvania. Only two Reformed congregations ordained pastors to serve American congregations.
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German Methodism dates from 1835, when German-born members of the United Presbyterian Church in the United William Nast converted to Methodism in Cincinnati. After States established the German Synod of the West with a establishing the first Methodist mission in 1837, Nast sent college and seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. At least two con- the Rev. Ludwig S. Jacoby to St. Louis as a missionary in gregations were organized in St. Louis: First German Pres- 1841. His work resulted in the organization of First German byterian Church (Peters Memorial) at 10th and Rutger Methodist Church, now Salem United Methodist Church in Streets in 1847, and Second German Presbyterian Church Ladue. Seven other German Methodist congregations were (East Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church), in 1878. established in St. Louis. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a revival-oriented German Presbyterians denomination originally established in the Cumberland Presbyterianism was established in Scotland by Calvinists River Valley of Kentucky and Tennessee, established two who rejected church government based on the authority of German speaking congregations in St. Louis: First German bishops. Its similarity in doctrine to the German Reformed Cumberland Presbyterian at 14th and Chambers Streets in Church attracted German immigrants. German-speaking 1857, at and Second German Cumberland Presbyterian at 18th and Market Streets in 1867. Denominational archives pertaining to German Congregationalists St. Louis German congregations Congregationalism was brought to America by the Catholic Lutheran Pilgrims, who asserted that the Church should be a non- Office of Archives and Concordia Historical Institute hierarchical association of individual congregations. The Records 804 Seminary Pl. denomination established First German Congregational Archdiocese of St. Louis St. Louis, MO 63105 20 Archbishop May Dr. Church (later known as Garfield Congregational) at Gar- (314) 505-7900 St. Louis, MO 63119 field and Spring Avenues in 1885. (314) 793-7020 [email protected] [email protected] www.lutheranhistory.org German Baptists www.archstl.org/archives Methodist German Baptists in St. Louis were affiliated with what is
German Baptist Missouri United now known as the North American Baptist Conference, first Methodist Archives Heritage Commission established in Philadelphia in 1843. First German Baptist Central Methodist University North American Baptist Con- Church was organized at 14th and Carr Streets in 1849 and 411 Central Methodist ference Square later relocated to 2629 Rauschenbusch Ave. South Jefferson 2100 Summit Ave. Fayette, MO 65248 Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Avenue German Baptist Church was founded in 1892. (660) 248-6271 (605) 274-2731 Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian) [email protected] [email protected] www.centralmethodist.edu/library www.nabarchives.org Congregations of the Church of the New Jerusalem follow
the teachings of Emmanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772), a Presbyterian German Evangelical and Swedish scientist, theologian, and mystic. St. Louis had German Congregational Charles C. Myers Library University of Dubuque two congregations. First German Church of the New Jeru- Eden Theological Seminary th 2000 University Ave. salem was established at 12 and Webster Streets in 1842, Archives Dubuque, IA 52001 475 E. Lockwood Ave. which continues as Church of the Open Word in Creve St. Louis, MO 63119 (563) 589-3100 Coeur. Second German Church of the New Jerusalem, es- (314) 252-3141 [email protected] tablished 1879, was located at 2126 St. Louis Ave. [email protected] www.dbq.edu/library Church of Divine Science www.eden.edu Divine Science was established in 1898 by former
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Records kept by other Protestants usually include baptisms, marriages, and deaths, although they commonly include less detail than those of Lutheran and German Evangelical congregations. More emphasis was laid on membership lists, which sometimes included baptism and death infor- mation. Early records of Congregational and Baptist churches were commonly kept in the form of minutes, which could include mention of baptisms, marriages, and deaths. Discrete lists of pastoral acts can also be found, however, especially in later records. St. Joseph’s Church as depicted in Pictorial St. Louis, the Great Metropolis of the Mississippi Valley, 1875. Records at St. Louis County Library The History and Genealogy Department has microfilm Christian Scientists. The German Society of Divine Science copies of most church records held by the three major was established in St. Louis in 1892 and purchased its first St. Louis-area religious archives: the Archives of the building at 18th and Pestalozzi Streets in 1898. The congre- Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis, Concordia Historical gation is now known as First Divine Science Church of Institute (Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod), and Eden St. Louis located at 3617 Wyoming. Theological Seminary Archives (United Church of Christ).
Records of St. Louis German churches Catholic records Catholic Churches keep records of baptisms, first commun- The library’s holdings include all parish records for the ions, confirmations, and marriages. Death records are also St. Louis Catholic Archdiocese available on microfilm. usually available, but some parishes did not initially keep Baptisms are generally available up to 1923, with more such information. Baptismal records usually include the recent coverage available for other records. A finding aid is name of the child’s parents and godparents. Marriage re- available in the department. Note: The Archives of the cords include names of parents and witnesses. Catholic re- Catholic Archdiocese will provide copies of records up to cordkeeping is regulated by church law, so data and format 1930 if they are not available on microfilm at St. Louis varies depending on regulations in force at the time. County Library. Protestant records Lutheran and German Evangelical churches recorded bap- tisms, confirmations, marriages, and deaths. The type and The department has records on microfilm for many St. amount of detail depended upon the pastor’s background Louis German Protestant congregations. See the online and recordkeeping style. Early records were often written in finding aids for records of Lutheran
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Timeline of German churches in St. Louis, 1766 – 1900 The following timeline lists religious developments and the founding dates of congregations. An asterisk (*) indicates that records are available in the St. Louis County Library History and Genealogy Department.
1766 – 1829 1766 Father Bernard De Limpach arrives from the Rhine- land as priest to the Catholic congregation in St. Louis 1791 First person with German surname baptized 1827 Diocese of St. Louis created
1830 – 1839 1830s Father Joseph Anthony Lutz, born in Baden, begins ministering to German Catholics Germans begin arriving in St. Louis in numbers 1833 German Evangelical Church, Femme Osage, St. Charles County, the first German Protestant Church
west of the Mississippi, is founded SEMINARY THEOLOGICAL OF EDEN PERMISSION BY USED Holy Ghost German Evangelical Church at its 7th & Walnut 1834 Holy Ghost German Evangelical, met at Benton location, 1840–1858. School; 7th & Walnut in 1840; 8th & Walnut in 1858; Grand & Page in 1895; Spring & Flad, 1923; Methodist at 1200 S. Lindbergh Blvd, Ladue 4916 Mardel Ave. in 1938; closed 2007* 1842First German Church of the New Jerusalem 1835 Mass held for north-side Germans in the chapel of (Swedenborgian), 12th & Webster Streets; now Church St. Louis University at 9th St. & Washington Ave. of the Open Word, 1040 Dautel Lane, Creve Coeur. 1836 First missionaries sent by German mission societies Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ, 620 Woods Mill arrive in St. Louis Rd, Chesterfield, is also related. 1837 William Nast establishes first German Methodist German Methodist Mission, Columbus St.; at 8th & Mission in Cincinnati Soulard Streets in 1858 as Eighth Street German 1838 St. John’s German Evangelical, Mehlville* Methodist, at Jefferson & Accomac in 1892 as Memorial German Methodist. Closed about 1981 German Evangelical Congregation, Des Peres; later divided into St. Paul’s Lutheran*, 1843 German Evangelical Congregation of St. Louis; es- St. Paul’s German Evangelical, Zions German Evan- tablished as a single corporation with two congrega- gelical (now Parkway United Church of Christ*) tions: North Church (St. Peter’s German Evangeli- cal), 14th & Carr (later at St. Louis & Warne Ave- 1839 Saxon Old Lutherans arrive in St. Louis and estab- nues, at West Florissant & Stein Roads since 1972)* lish Trinity Lutheran; met at Christ Episcopal rd and South Church (St. Marcus German Evangelical) Church; built a chapel at 3 & Lombard in 1842; rd th 3 & Jackson Streets, now at Russell Blvd. & located 1805 S. 8 St. since 1864* McNair Ave.* 1840 – 1849 St. Paul’s German Evangelical, Stratman (Creve Coeur), now St. Paul’s Evangelical Free Church, 1840 Evangelischer Kirchenverein des Westens Olive & Warson. (predecessor of the German Evangelical Synod of North America) founded at St. John’s, Mehlville 1844 St. Paul’s German Evangelical, Oakville* 1841 First German Methodist established by missionary St. Vincent de Paul Catholic, 9th St. & Park Ave.* Ludwig S. Jacoby, 10th & Wash Streets, later at St. Mary of Victories Catholic, Gratiot & 3rd Kingshighway & Cote Brilliante, now Salem United Streets*
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1844 Immanuel Lutheran, Olivette 1857 First German Cumberland Presbyterian, also known th St. Joseph’s Catholic (now St. Joseph’s Shrine), as Gethsemane; 14 & Chambers Streets, later at th 11th & Biddle Streets* Jefferson & Wash Streets, Sullivan & 25 Streets. Last listed in 1899 city directory 1846 Salem Methodist, Ballwin 1858 Holy Cross Lutheran, 2650 Miami* 1848 St. Paul’s German Evangelical, 9th St. between Lafayette & Soulard Streets, now at Giles & 1859 Zion Lutheran, 1426 Warren St., now at 2500 st Potomac* N. 21 St.* East St. Louis Mission, later known as Eden Meth- 1859 St. Trinity Lutheran, 7404 Vermont (Carondelet)* odist; St. Louis Ave. & Montgomery St., at 13th & Benton Streets beginning 1852; at 2601 Warren St. 1860 – 1869 in 1883; later at 5987 Wabada Ave. Closed 1935 1860 St. John’s German Evangelical, Manchester* Immanuel Lutheran, 11th St. & Franklin Ave., later Concordia German Evangelical, later St. Peter’s; St. at 3540 Marcus Ave.; closed 2011* Charles Rock Road & Lucas & Hunt Road, Wells- Holy Trinity Catholic, 3519 N. 14th St.* ton; later at St. Louis Ave. & Lucas & Hunt Rd., Normandy. Closed 1980 (records extant for 1941– Zion German Evangelical, Ballas Road between 1980 only)* Clayton and Manchester Roads, now known as Parkway United Church of Christ, 2841 N. Ballas St. Boniface Catholic, 4th & Schirmer Streets, Road, Des Peres* Carondelet. Closed 2000* 1849 Salem Lutheran, Black Jack (Florissant)* 1862 St. Paul’s, Desoto Ave. & Benedict, now at 2137 E. John Ave.* Bethlehem Lutheran, 2153 Salisbury St.* 1863 First German Presbyterian, 10th & Autumn (now Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic, Allen Ave. & 8th St.* Rutger) Streets, later at Sidney St. & Minnesota 1849 First German Baptist, 14th & Carr Streets; later at Ave. as Peters Memorial Presbyterian. Closed 1996; 2629 Rauschenbusch Ave.; changed name to disposition of records unknown St. Louis Park Baptist during WWI. The congrega- St. Peter’s Lutheran, 1120 Trampe Ave., Spanish tion continues to operate at the same location under Lake the name New St. Louis Park Baptist Church. Holy Cross Catholic, 8115 Church Rd.; merged with St. Paul’s Lutheran, Manchester & Ballas Roads, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in 1993 to form Our Lady Des Peres; reorganized after a group left the Man- of the Holy Cross* chester Road German Evangelical Congregation to form Zions German Evangelical Church (now 1863 St. Anthony of Padua Catholic, 3140 Meramec St.* Parkway United Church of Christ).* 1865 St. John’s Lutheran, 3738 Morganford Rd. 1866 St. Nicholas Catholic, 20th St. & Lucas Ave.* 1850 – 1859 Sacred Heart Catholic, Florissant* 1851 St. John’s Lutheran, Ellisville* 1867 Bethany German Evangelical, 22nd & Franklin th 1852 St. John’s German Evangelical, 14 & Madison; Streets, later at 23rd & Carr Streets, 23rd & Wash now at Grand Blvd. & Lee Ave.* (now Cole) Streets, Red Bud & Rosalie Avenues, St. Mary’s Catholic, Bridgeton. Closed 2001* now at 11936 Bellefontaine Rd., Bellefontaine 1855 St. Liborius Catholic, 19th & Monroe Streets. Neighbors as Bethany-Peace UCC* Closed 1992* Second German Cumberland Presbyterian, 18th & th 1856 Independent German Evangelical Protestant, 8th & Market Streets, later at 18 & Montgomery Streets; Mound Streets; later at 13th & Webster Streets, Fair last listed in 1899 city directory; address listed as & Margaretta Avenues; now at 11370 Old Halls Presbyterian Mission in 1900 city directory but ab- Ferry Rd., Florissant as Christ the King United sent in later editions. Church of Christ* St. Francis de Sales Catholic, Gravois & Ohio 1857 Friedens German Evangelical, 19th & Newhouse Avenues* Streets. Closed 2008*
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1867 St. Mark’s English Lutheran, Wash (now Cole) & Elliott Streets, later at Bell St. & Cardinal Ave., now CLASSES at 6337 Clayton Rd., Clayton 1868 Zion German Evangelical, 23rd & Montgomery Classes are free and open to the public. Registration is Streets, later at 25th & Benton, at 5710 N. U.S. required. Call (314) 994-3300 to register. Space is limited. Highway 67, Florissant since 1971* Christ Lutheran, 3504 Caroline St., now known as MARCH Christ in the City* Introduction to Fold3 and HeritageQuest 1869 Carondelet German Evangelical, Michigan & Koeln Avenues* Thursday, March 5 | 2 p.m. Headquarters Computer Lab Ebenezer Lutheran, 1011 Theobald St.* Larry Franke, instructor Zion Lutheran, 12075 Dorsett Rd., Maryland Heights Registration is now open. St. James German Evangelical, 1507 College Ave. Closed 1979* History and Genealogy in Newspapers Thursday, March 12 | 2 p.m. 1870 – 1879 Headquarters Computer Lab 1870 St. Luke’s German Evangelical, Scott St. & Jeffer- Larry Franke, instructor son Ave., later at 2336 Tennessee Ave., reorganized Registration is now open. as Garden Light UCC in 2008. Closed 2011* 1871 St. Agatha’s Catholic, 8th & Utah Streets* Beginning a Genealogical Research Project 1872 Grace Lutheran, 6406 Easton Ave. (now Martin Lu- Tuesday, March. 17 | 2 p.m. ther King, Jr. Drive), Wellston, now at 1425 Fergu- Headquarters East Room son Ave., Pagedale Larry Franke, instructor St. Paul’s Lutheran, DeSoto Ave. & Benedict St., Registration is now open. now at 2137 John Ave.* Bethania (Bethany) Lutheran, Natural Bridge Rd. APRIL near Spring Ave.; at Natural Bridge & Clay Ave. in Introduction to Ancestry Library 1879. Closed 1984 Edition Database 1873 Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic, 2011 Linten Tuesday, April 7 | 2 p.m. Ave. Closed 1992* Headquarters Computer Lab 1874 Concordia Lutheran, Kirkwood Larry Franke, instructor St. Augustine’s Catholic, 22nd & Herbert Streets, Registration opens March 10 later at 3114 Lismore. Closed 1982* Introduction to Fold3 and HeritageQuest St. Bernard’s Catholic, 4019 Gratiot St. Closed 1973* Thursday, April 16 | 2 p.m. Headquarters Computer Lab 1875 St. Matthew’s German Evangelical, 7th & Cave Larry Franke, instructor Streets; since 1876 at Jefferson Ave. and Potomac Registration opens March 19. St.* 1878 Bethlehem German Evangelical (Independent), History and Genealogy in Newspapers Morgan & Beaumont Streets, later at Elliott Ave. and Wash (now Cole) St. in building formerly occu- Wednesday, April 22 | 2 p.m. pied by St. Mark’s English Lutheran. Last listed in Headquarters Computer Lab Larry Franke, instructor 1903 city directory; disposition of records unknown Registration opens March 25. Second German Presbyterian, 1524 E. Grand Ave., later at 4524 N. 19th St. as East Grand Avenue Pres- byterian. Closed 1984
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1879 Holy Ghost Catholic, 1901 N. Taylor Ave. Closed Ave, later at Virginia and Koeln Avenues, Caronde- 1961* let; now at 1603 Union Road, St. Louis County Second German Church of the New Jerusalem 1891 St. Engelbert’s Catholic, 4330 Shreve Ave.; closed (Swedenborgian), 2126 St. Louis Ave.; became 1994* Third German Church of the New Jerusalem in 1899 1892 St. John’s German Evangelical, Chesterfield and was later known as Church of the Glorification. Immanuel German Evangelical, Euclid & Maple Closed Avenues, merged with Eden in 1919 to form Eden- Immanuel. Closed 1971* 1880 – 1889 St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic, 5608 N. Magnolia. 1880 St. Lucas German Evangelical, Sappington* Closed 2005* 1882 St. Pauls-Friedens Lutheran (later German Evangeli- Concordia Lutheran, Maplewood; met at Masonic cal), 13th St. & Allen Ave., merged with Jesus Ger- Hall at Forest & Bruno; first building 2201 Forest in man Evangelical in 1913 (closed 2000)* 1905; at 7291 Sarah, Maplewood, since 1953 1885 Salem German Evangelical, Shreve & Margareta South Jefferson Avenue German Baptist Church, Avenues; now at New Halls Ferry & Pohlman Road, 2141 Jefferson Ave. Closed Florissant as Salem Evangelical Free Church. 1893 Trinity German Evangelical, Mt. Pleasant St. & Ebenezer German Methodist, 2600 N. Taylor Street, Michigan Ave., later at Grand Blvd. & Itaska St.; at later known as Elmbank Avenue German Methodist, 5200 Hilda Ave. since 2005* 4433 Elmbank Ave. Closed 1937; disposition of re- cords unknown St. Barbara’s Catholic, 1371 Hamilton Blvd. Closed 1992 1885 First German Congregational, Garfield & Spring Avenues; later known as Garfield Congregational; 1894 Eden German Evangelical, Hamilton (merged with lasted listed in the 1926 Congregational Year Book. Eden in 1919 to form Eden-Immanuel (closed 1971)* St.Henry’s Catholic, California Ave. & Hickory St.; Jesus German Evangelical, 12th & Victor. Closed merged in 1972 with Immaculate Conception to be- 2000* come Immaculate Conception-St. Henry at Lafayette St. Peter’s Lutheran, Vista & Newstead, now at Ave. & Longfellow Pl. Closed 2005* 1126 S. Kingshighway* 1886 Ebenezer German Evangelical, 2921 McNair Ave., Emmaus Lutheran, 2241 S. Jefferson Ave. merged with St. Andrew German Evangelical in Our Redeemer Lutheran (English), met at Anchor 1964 to form Epiphany UCC at same address* Hall at Park and Jefferson Avenues; at California 1888 Immanuel German Evangelical, Ferguson* Ave. & Juniata St. in 1897; at Utah St. & Oregon Salem Reformed, 18th & Sullivan Streets, merged in Ave. in 1901. Closed 2010 1949 with Faith Evangelical & Reformed Church to 1895 St. Michael’s Catholic, 7622 Sutherland Ave., form Faith-Salem. Closed 2000 Shrewsbury* Gano Avenue German Methodist, later known as 1896 St. Stephen’s German Evangelical, Halls Ferry Rd. Zoar; Gano & Carter Avenues. Closed & Gamblin St., later at Halls Ferry Rd. and 1889 Grace Chapel Lutheran, St. Louis & Garrison Ave- McLaren Ave. Closed 2011* nues, now at 10015 Lance Dr., Bellefontaine Emmaus German Evangelical, Tower Grove & Neighbors* Chouteau Avenues. Closed 1976* St. Luke’s Lutheran, 3415 Taft Ave. 1890 – 1899 th 1898 German Society of Divine Science; located at 18 & 1890 Bethlehem German Evangelical (German Evangeli- Pestalozzi in 1898; at 3617 Wyoming since 1915; cal Synod), Herford St. & Shaw Ave., later at South- now known as First Divine Science Church of west Ave. & Reber Place, merged with Messiah St. Louis German Evangelical in 1927 to form Mt. Tabor, Holy Family Catholic, 4125 Humphrey. Closed 6520 Arsenal 2005* Zion German Methodist, Pennsylvania & Upton
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1899 St. Andrew’s German Evangelical, California Ave. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953. and Juniata St., merged with Ebenezer German R 977.8 F734Z and circulating copy Evangelical in 1964 to form Epiphany UCC at 2921 Holl, Scott. The Stones Cry Out: Congregations of the McNair Ave.* Evangelical Synod of North America in the City of Maple Avenue Reformed Church, Maple & Claren- Saint Louis, 1834 – 2005. St. Louis: Eden Theological don Avenues. Last listed in 1915 city directory; dis- Seminary, 2005. R 977.866 H191S position of records unknown Hughes, Christine Human. Guide to St. Louis Catholic Sources Archdiocesan Parish Records. St. Louis: Friends of the St. Louis County Library, 2001. R 977.86 H893G. Electronic sources A copy is shelved with finding aids. “Congregation Index.” St. Louis Genealogical Society, Margaret, E.C., Friedrich Munz, and Geo. B. Addicks. http://stlgs.org/research-2/congregations/congregation- Jubiläumsbuch der St. Louis Deutschen Konferenz. index, accessed Feb. 25, 2015. Cincinnati: Jennings and Graham, 1903. R 287.6 J91 “History of First Divine Science Church of St. Louis.” Mead, Frank S. Mead. Handbook of Denominations in the Society for Practical Christianity, http:// United States, 10th Ed. Nashville: Abingdon, 1995. www.practicalchristianitystlouis.com/ R 280.973 M479H history_citychurch.html, accessed Feb. 26, 2015. Scharf, J. Thomas. History of St. Louis City and County Mihelic, Joseph. “Summary History of the Synod of the From the Earliest Periods to the Present Day. 2 vols. West.” PDF online, Dubuque University, http:// Philadelphia: L.H. Everts, 1883. R 977.866 S311H www.dbq.edu/media/library/collections/Summary- Schneider, Carl E. The German Church on the American History-of-the-Synod-of-the-West.pdf, accessed Frontier. St. Louis: Eden Publishing House, 1939. Feb. 25, 2015. R 284.173 S358G “Office of Archives and Records.” Archdiocese of St. Witness in the County: The German Evangelical Legacy in Louis, http://www.archstl.org/archives, accessed Feb. Saint Louis County, 1838 – 1957. St. Louis: Eden Theo- 27, 2015. logical Seminary, 2012. R 977.865 W825, shelved with Ramaker, Albert John. “The German Baptists in North finding aids America: An Outline of Their Heritage.” CB Library, http://www.cblibrary.net/history/german_baptists/ Directories ram_contents.htm, accessed Feb. 26, 2015. The Blue Book: The Church Manual of Greater St. Louis. “St. Louis Neighborhood History.” City of St. Louis St. Louis: Metropolitan Church Federation. Available Missouri, https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ volumes cover 1926 – 1932. R 977.866 B658 departments/planning/cultural-resources/neighborhood- St. Louis City Directories. See the Fold3 database for di- histories.cfm, accessed Feb. 25, 2015. rectories covering 1863 to 1923. The History and Ge- “Two Hundred Years of St. Louis Places of Worship, 1770 nealogy Department has directories on microfilm and – 1970.” St. Louis Public Library, http:// paper formats. A finding aid in the History and Geneal- previous.slpl.org/libsrc/s-stlworship.htm, accessed ogy Department lists exact holdings. Feb. 25, 2015. Published church histories Print publications Published histories for many congregations are available. Faherty, William B. The St. Louis German Catholics. St. Search the library catalog
NEWS AND TIPS | ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY DEPARTMENT
MARCH 2015 | PAGE 14
NEW IN THE HISTORY AND GENEALOGY DEPARTMENT
View the list of new To find new titles on the book list, note the Dewey Deci- mal Number for the state / county or subject you are inter- books on the web ested in. Scroll through the book list until you find items beginning with that call number. A list of new books received during the previous month now appears on Books with call numbers not beginning with “R” are the library’s website. View the list by listed in Dewey Decimal order first, followed by those clicking on the graphic, left, or by beginning with “R” (denoting “Reference” books that may typing the URL into your browser: be used only in the library). Book titles can be selected
Calvary of the American American rangers in the South Carolina backcountry, and Revolution the British army’s Queen’s Rangers and “Black Dragoons,” Jim Piecuch, Editor the latter force composed entirely of former slaves. The essays also examine the roles of important commanders, Westholme, 2012 including Brigadier General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion, R 973.33 C377 Lieutenant Colonel William Washington, and Colonel An- thony Walton White of the American army, and British From the bitterly contested no-man’s- cavalry leaders Banastre “Bloody Ban” Tarleton and John land between American and British Graves Simcoe, as well as the American prisoners of war lines in New York and New Jersey to who switched sides and served in the “British Legion.” the scorching pine forests of the South, the cavalry of both armies fought valiantly throughout the American Revolu- The authors of the essays include acclaimed military histo- tion. This volume explores several aspects of cavalry’s role rians Gregory J. W. Urwin and Lawrence E. Babits. Read- in the war, which has often been overlooked in general his- ers with a general interest in military history, as well as tories. The topics covered include the development of the those with more specific interests in the American Revolu- Continental Army’s cavalry arm, European influences on tion or the history of the cavalry arm, and anyone who American cavalry training and tactics, accounts of several wishes to undertake further study of these subjects, will important cavalry raids and battles, and histories of find the essays fresh, engaging, and informative. mounted units such as the Continental Light Dragoons, —Publisher
NEWS AND TIPS | ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY DEPARTMENT MARCH 2015 | PAGE 15
Gathering Together: The realities and ideas of both groups. Examining Shawnee so- Shawnee People in Through ciety and politics in new depth, and introducing not only Diaspora and Nationhood, charismatic warriors like Blue Jacket and Tecumseh but 1600–1870 also other leaders and thinkers, Lakomäki explores the By Sami Lakomäki Shawnee people’s debates and strategies for coping with colonial invasion. The author refutes the deep-seated notion Yale University, 2014 that only European colonists created new nations in Amer- R 974 L192G ica, showing that the Shawnees, too, were engaged in na- tion building. With a sharpened focus on the creativity and Weaving Indian and Euro-American power of Native political thought, Lakomäki provides an histories together in this groundbreaking book, Sami La- array of insights into Indian as well komäki places the Shawnee people, and Native peoples in as American history.—Publisher general, firmly at the center of American history. The book covers nearly three centuries, from the years leading up to Race and Meaning: the Shawnees’ first European contacts to the post–Civil The African American War era, and demonstrates vividly how the interactions be- Experience in Missouri tween Natives and newcomers transformed the political By Gary R. Kremer University of Missouri, 2014 GENEALOGY AT R R 305.896 K92R Race and Meaning: The African CLIFF CAVE American Experience in Missouri brings together fourteen of the best essays written by State Historical Society of The following events take place at the Cliff Cave Missouri Executive Director Gary R. Kremer over his ca- Branch of St. Louis County Library, 5430 Telegraph reer of more than four decades as a scholar. The book also Road. Events are free and open to the public. includes a personal introduction in which he reflects on why he was drawn to African American history and de- scribes people, places, and experiences that influenced him. MARCH / APRIL An essential work for anyone with an interest in Missouri Genealogy and the Julian and history—State Historical Society of Missouri website Gregorian Calendars Monday, March 16 | 6:30 p.m. Other notable titles Learn how the the Julian Calendar, in use before the 1750s, and today’s Gregorian Calendar affect genea- The Negro in Illinois: The WPA Papers. Urbana: Univer- logical research. sity of Illinois, 2013. R 977.311 N393
Ken Webb, speaker Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future: A History of Missouri's Sheriffs. Jefferson City, Mo.: Missouri Advantages of Lineage Societies and Their Docu- Sheriffs’ Association, 2014. R 977.8 P933 ments Monday, April 20 | 6:30 p.m. Raab, Steve F. The Grand Old Game of Baseball: A His- Judy Belford, speaker tory of Amateur Baseball in the Creve Coeur, Missouri Area. New Melle, Mo.: Pixilated, 2014.
NEWS AND TIPS | ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY DEPARTMENT